Cherry Bakewell Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and make sure there's a shelf ready in the middle. Butter and line the bases of two 20cm round sandwich tins with baking paper.
• Using electric beaters, beat together all the cake ingredients with a pinch of salt until smooth, then spoon into the tins and level the tops. Bake for 30 mins or until golden and springy. Don't open the oven before 25 mins cooking time has passed.
• When they're ready, cool the sponges for a few mins, then tip out of the tins and cool completely on a wire rack. Make sure the top of one of the cakes is facing up as you'll want a smooth surface for the icing later on.
• When cool, put one sponge on a serving plate, then spread with jam. Sandwich the second sponge on top. Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add the water or lemon juice, then stir until smooth and thick. Spread evenly over the top and let it dribble over the sides. Scatter with the nuts and leave to set for a few mins before cutting.

Steps:

• Combine the bread mix and caster sugar in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre and pour in 200ml of the milk, the melted butter, egg and half of the almond essence, then mix together swiftly with a wooden spoon. If it feels a little dry, add a dash more milk. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 5-10 mins until you have a dough that is smooth and springy. Put the dough in a large, lightly oiled mixing bowl, then cover and leave in a warm place for 1½-2 hrs, or until doubled in size.
• Mix the raspberry jam and remaining almond essence together in a small bowl. Tip the dough out of its bowl onto a lightly floured surface and knock it back (gently kneading it a few times to expel the air). Split the dough into 12 equal-sized pieces, then shape each one into a round and roll out to a diameter of about 10cm. Drop a level tsp of the jam into the centre of each round and fold in the ends to cover the jam so that it's in the centre of the bun. Pinch the ends tightly together to seal. Arrange nine of the buns, pinched-side down, on a lined baking sheet in a circle. Place the remaining three in the centre, leaving a little space between each one so they can spread out. Cover loosely and leave for 1 hr more to double in size.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Bake for 20-25 mins in the centre of the oven until golden brown, then remove from the oven and leave to cool completely on the baking sheet.
• Mix the icing sugar and 3 tbsp water together to create a thick, glossy icing. Spread the icing over the buns and top each one with a glacé cherry, then sprinkle over the almonds. Leave the icing to set for at least 10 mins.

Steps:

• First, make the pastry. Tip the flour, ground almonds, sugar and a pinch of salt into a bowl. Use your fingers to rub the butter in until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Drizzle in the egg, then slowly mix in up to 2 tbsp ice-cold water until it comes together into a dough. Shape into a disc, wrap and chill for 30 mins. Will keep chilled for two days.
• For the filling, beat the butter and sugar together with an electric whisk until combined. Add the ground almonds and eggs, then beat for 1 min more until you have a thick, spreadable paste. Will keep chilled for up to a day. Remove from the fridge an hour before needed.
• Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use it to line a 23cm fluted tart tin, leaving some overhanging the rim. Chill for another 30 mins or put in the freezer for 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick the pastry case all over with a fork, then line with a large circle of baking parchment. Fill with baking beans and bake for 20 mins. Remove the beans and parchment, then bake for 10-15 mins more until the pastry is biscuity brown. Remove from the oven, trim off the excess using a serrated knife, then leave to cool slightly.
• Spread the cherry conserve or jam over the base of the tart, then spoon in the frangipane filling and gently spread to the edges. Push the cherries into the filling slightly, then scatter over the flaked almonds. Bake for 45-50 mins until the cherries have sunken into the tart and the filling is deeply golden and set. Leave to cool completely in the tin, then remove to a serving plate or board and cut into slices. Serve with clotted cream, crème fraîche or a scoop of vanilla ice cream, if you like.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C/170C Fan/Gas 5. Drain the cherries, then put on treble thickness kitchen paper.
• Roll out the pastry and use it to line a 33x23cm shallow tin, allowing it to come 3cm up the sides.
• Line the pastry with a piece of foil and weigh it down with rice. Bake for 10 minutes then remove the foil and rice and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
• Spread the base with the preserve. Scatter the cherries over the base.
• Beat the butter and caster sugar until creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the extract. Fold in the ground almonds and flour.
• Spread over the pastry base, then sprinkle with the flaked almonds. Bake for 40 minutes, covering loosely with foil after 25 minutes, to stop it browning too much.
• Leave to cool. Dust with icing sugar and decorate with cherries, if using.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350F and make sure there's a shelf ready in the middle. Butter and line the bases of two 8in round sandwich tins with baking paper.
• Using electric beaters, beat together all the cake ingredients with a pinch of salt until smooth, then spoon into the tins and level the tops.
• Bake for 30 mins or until golden and springy. Don't open the oven before 25 mins cooking time has passed.
• When they're ready, cool the sponges for a few mins, then tip out of the tins and cool completely on a wire rack. Make sure the top of one of the cakes is facing up as you'll want a smooth surface for the icing later on.
• When cool, put one sponge on a serving plate, then spread with preserves. Sandwich the second sponge on top. Sieve the confectioners sugar into a large bowl. Add the water or lemon juice, then stir until smooth and thick. Spread evenly over the top and let it dribble over the sides. Scatter with the nuts and leave to set for a few mins before cutting.

Steps:

• Fill two tall glasses with ice cubes. Combine the amaretto, cordial and lemon juice in a small jug, then divide between the glasses. Top with lemonade, then stir well. Garnish with a maraschino cherry, if you like.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and make sure there's a shelf ready in the middle.
• Butter and line the bases of 2 x 20cm round sandwich tins with baking paper.
• Using electric beaters, beat together all the cake ingredients with a pinch of salt until smooth.
• Spoon into the tins and level the tops.
• Bake for 30 mins or until golden and springy. Don't open the oven before 25 mins cooking time has passed.
• When they're ready, cool the sponges for a few mins, then tip out of the tins and cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make sure the top of one of the cakes is facing up as you'll want a smooth surface for the icing later on.
• When cool, put one sponge on a serving plate, then spread with jam.
• Sandwich the second sponge on top.
• Sieve the icing sugar into a large bowl.
• Add the water or lemon juice, then stir until smooth and thick.
• Spread evenly over the top and let it dribble over the sides.
• Scatter with the nuts and leave to set for a few mins before cutting.